FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 25, 2006
Mount Sinai School of Medicine Student to be Honored for Research
St. Paul, Minn., -
Alexander Shtilbans, a medical student at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, N.Y., will be honored with the Extended Neuroscience Award for his work in neurogenetics. Shtilbans will receive the award during the American Academy of Neurology’s 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., held April 1 – 8. The Extended Neuroscience Award seeks to stimulate interest in the field of neurology as an exciting and challenging profession by offering highly competitive awards for the best essay. This is one of four Medical Student Essay Awards offered by the American Academy of Neurology. Shtilbans is expected to give a poster presentation based on his research during the meeting. Shtilbans’s essay, “Novel Pathogenic Mutations in Human Mitochondrial DNA Genes,” identified molecular deficits in human mitochondrial genome associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. “Although there have been no breakthroughs in the therapeutic approach to mitochondrial diseases, dissection of mitochondrial DNA mutations offers accurate diagnosis,” said Shtilbans. “I am much honored to have been selected as a recipient of this prestigious award from the AAN. It is a powerful encouragement for me to continue my research and pursue a career in neurology.” The 58th Annual Meeting takes place in the San Diego Convention Center. It is the world’s largest annual gathering of neurologists.